Question

Q24. Consider the following statements about Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA):

1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2013 to provide strategic funding to all State higher educational institutions.

2. It is a voluntary scheme.

Which of the statements are correct?

• A. a) 1 only
• B. b) 2 only
• C. c) Both 1 and 2
• D. d) None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is B

b) 2 only

Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)

It is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2013 to provide strategic funding to eligible State higher educational institutions.

Despite being voluntary, all States except a Union Territory (Lakshadweep) are a part of RUSA.

Funding

The central funding is in the ratio of

• 60:40 for general category States
• 90:10 for special category states
• 100% for union territories
• Funding is conditional to performance

The salient objectives of RUSA are to:

• Ensure reforms in the affiliation, academic and examination systems.
• Ensure adequate availability of quality faculty in all higher educational institutions and ensure capacity building at all levels of employment.
• Create an enabling atmosphere in the higher educational institutions to devote themselves to research and innovations.
• Improve equity in higher education by providing adequate opportunities of higher education to SC/STs and socially and educationally backward classes; promote inclusion of women, minorities, and differently abled persons.

So the scheme is largely based on the conditional release of funds linked to reforms in the key areas of governance, learning-teaching outcomes, reaching out to the unreached and infrastructure support.